Is self-preparing your Australian Skills Assessment profile truly optimal in terms of cost, time, and effort? Don't miss out on this article!

As the name implies, for Australian skilled migration (employment-based), applicants must meet specific employment criteria to receive approval from the Department of Home Affairs. Specifically, you must undergo a detailed screening and evaluation process known as the Skills Assessment. 

After successfully passing the Skills Assessment (receiving a Positive result), you still need to complete several other procedures to migrate to Australia. Key steps include submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), waiting for a visa invitation, and more.

However, if your Australian Skills Assessment is unsuccessful, your dream of migrating to Australia may be put on hold. It can be said that the Skills Assessment is the critical starting point that directly impacts the outcome of your skilled migration journey.

What is Skills Assessment and where does it fit in the Skilled migration process?

A Skills Assessment is the process of evaluating an applicant's skills based on criteria such as educational qualifications, work experience, and English proficiency. The evaluation is conducted by an Assessing Authority corresponding to your chosen occupation. Below is the list of 40 Australian Skills Assessing Authorities:

Note: Some Skills Assessing Authorities have the capacity to assess multiple fields. For instance, VETASSESS can assess both the Education sector (teachers, lecturers...) and the Professional/Trade sector; this includes professional roles (Marketing Specialists, Environmental Consultants...) as well as Trade occupations (Bakers, Hairdressers...).

Visa subclasses that require Skills Assessment

Skills Assessment is a mandatory requirement for most Australian skilled migration visas. 

• Subclass 189: Permanent Residency, no State/Territory nomination required
• Subclass 190: Permanent Residency, requires State/Territory nomination
• Subclass 491: Provisional Residency (requires State/Territory nomination or family sponsorship)
• Subclass 186: Permanent Residency, requires employer sponsorship
• Subclass 482:Temporary Residency, requires employer sponsorship
• Subclass 494: Provisional Residency, requires employer sponsorship

How will your skills be assessed?

To prove that you meet the criteria for a specific job position, you will be thoroughly evaluated based on factors such as qualifications, work experience, English proficiency, written reports/essays (if required), interviews, etc. 

Here are the 03 basic requirements for most Assessing Authorities:

Educational qualifications

General requirements

Education is considered the primary prerequisite influencing the outcome of a Skills Assessment. If you do not meet the educational requirements, you may fail to qualify for the Assessing Authorities' criteria.

Here is the general educational requirement for a Skills Assessment application:

• Graduated from a University/College providing relevant training in Australia, or an institution in Vietnam recognised by Australia
• Graduated with a Bachelor's degree or College Diploma (a Master's or PhD degree is an added advantage)
• Completed specific courses/certificates as required

Note: You must fully prepare all degrees, transcripts, and certificates to authenticate your educational background

How can Vietnamese qualifications be recognised and converted?

Vietnamese universities are often classified into multiple sections (tiers) from high to low. A Bachelor's degree issued by a section 1 university will generally be recognised as equivalent to an Australian Bachelor's degree. Meanwhile, a Bachelor's degree issued by a section 2 university may only be deemed equivalent to an Australian Advanced Diploma.

Educational requirements can vary for each specific occupation. If your target occupation requires a Bachelor's degree, applicants from Vietnam must hold a Bachelor's degree from a section 1 institution. If your university falls under section 2, you may need to study further at a section 1 school, or choose an alternative occupation that accepts section 2 qualifications.

Contact Skill Direct to find out exactly which section your university belongs to before choosing the right occupation!

Work experience

The required number of years of experience will be determined based on your job position and the respective Skills Assessing Authority. Generally, you need at least 01 year of experience in the exact role you are applying for, or in a position that requires equivalent experience.

Note: You must obtain reference letters specifying your job duties and employment duration, payslips, tax returns, bank statements showing salary credits, and insurance payment proofs to validate your work experience at a company.

English language proficiency certificate

Each occupation and Assessing Authority has different English language requirements. Generally, you need to have an IELTS result (with no band score under 6.0) or PTE để đáp ứng yêu cầu thẩm định. Trong trường hợp không có chứng chỉ IELTS hoặc PTE, bạn có thể thay thế bằng một số chứng chỉ khác như TOEFL iBT, Cambridge… 

Furthermore, several related reports must be translated into English, so achieving a high score and demonstrating proficiency in English is a distinct advantage for a successful Skills Assessment.

CDR Report (For Engineering)

Besides education and work experience, depending on the occupation and the Assessing Authority, your application may require a detailed report on your work experience and language competency. This serves as a basis for authorities to further evaluate your other skills, such as analytical thinking, management, communication, and leadership. 

For the Engineering sector, Engineers Australia (EA) requires you to attach a CDR (Competency Demonstration Report). This is considered the ultimate deciding factor for a Skills Assessment outcome. It demands that you fully showcase your core technical competencies and soft skills to prove you meet the Assessing Authority's rigorous standards.

Are you looking to choose an Engineering occupation for your Australian skilled migration journey? Contact Skill Direct now!

Step-by-step Skills Assessment process

1. Research the eligible occupation and the corresponding Assessing Authority

• Identify your occupation on the official website of the Australian Government - Department of Home Affairs.
• Find the specific Assessing Authority assigned to that occupation.

2. Gather documents as required by the Assessing Authority

Every authority has different document and qualification requirements. However, a standard Skills Assessment profile typically includes:

• Passport or National Identity Card
• Degrees and certificates related to the occupation
• Official academic transcripts
• English proficiency certificate: IELTS or equivalent
• Work experience evidence: Employment contracts, reference letters, payslips, etc
• Other supporting documents: Additional paperwork may be requested depending on the occupation and the Assessing Authority

3. Submit the application

You must follow up on your nearest applicant submission to prepare all documents in full and on time. 

4. Receive results

You will receive the outcome of your Australian Skills Assessment once the Assessing Authority completes its review and evaluation.

07 tips to pass your Australian Skills Assessment

Migrating to Australia is a long journey involving multiple stages. However, before embarking on this path, you must successfully pass the Skills Assessment.

• Select the right occupation and thoroughly master the professional knowledge within your field.
• Understand your job description; you can consider multiple occupational pathways within the Skills Assessment framework
• Your field of study is closely relevant to the occupation being assessed
• Meticulously prepare documents that substantiate your skills and experience
• Participate in short courses or professional training to upgrade your skills if necessary
• Request employment reference letters from your company as early as possible
• Prepare critical factors such as work experience and English certificates as soon as possible

The skilled migration process after receiving a positive Skills Assessment

After identifying your occupation and completing the Australian Skills Assessment, you will submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)to lodge your application for the Skilled Migration visa. This registration profile will show your work experience and professional qualifications

Next, you will enter the waiting period for a visa invitationOnce received, you will have exactly 60 days to lodge your formal visa application. To complete this stage, you must gather all required supporting documents , such as identity papers and qualifications, similar to the ones you previously prepared for your Skills Assessment.

After completing and submitting the application in time, the Department of Home Affairs will review your Australian skilled migration application. If you meet all the criteria, you will be granted a migration visa.

Can you do a Skills Assessment on your own?

The answer is yes. The Department of Home Affairs does not mandate that you authorise a third party or migration agent to handle your profile; you are free to do it yourself. As long as your application is complete, accurate, and aligned with a defined migration pathway, you can achieve a positive outcome and pass the assessment round.

However, self-preparing a Skills Assessment might carry significant risks:

You might choose the incorrect pathway for your registered occupation, which will directly cause your Skills Assessment to be unsuccessful, and you might lose the application fees paid because the Assessing Authorities do not offer refunds at this stage.

You might also over-focus on certain documents while missing other critical evidence, which can lead to significant delays and a waste of time.This valuable time can be used to gain more work experience or improve your English scores to prepare for the visa stage. If you receive an invitation but your visa documents are incomplete due to a lack of preparation, you risk missing your opportunity to apply for the visa.

Let Skill Direct guarantee the success of your application!

Skill Direct is an Australian-based migration consulting firm. With years of experience in handling Skills Assessment applications, we optimise the success rate of our clients' profiles by:

• Providing personalised consultations to help you select the right occupation based on your capabilities and work experience
• Providing transparent initial profile assessments that follow standard procedures
• Constantly follow up with the latest changes in Australian immigration policies
• Delivering the most recent updates to expedite your application process
• Managing any unforeseen issues throughout the process to protect your document's validity and avoid a time rush

With this comprehensive overview of the Australian Skills Assessment, Skill Direct believes that you have gained the knowledge for your journey. Skill Direct wishes you the absolute best of success in your upcoming Skills Assessment

Are you interested in the Australian Skills Assessment, looking for a customised skilled migration pathway? Contact Skill Direct via our hotline 0846 868 685 for dedicated and professional advice! 

Skill Direct